Oaken Gearbox

I needed a roof rack for the 2013 Ford Focus Hatchback that I recently bought. I don't like the clamp-on racks; they always look like an afterthought, and there's also the risk of damaged paint. I wanted the rack to be bolt-on, yet fully and easily removeable. This was my solution. Pictured are Yakima "Jetstream" bars with Landing Pad 11. This should work with any type of Focus, Focus ST, or Focus RS since they all have the same body, probably other cars, too, if they have the same style rain gutter. Although it took more time than I thought, I'm really happy with the result. Overall I probably spent 16hrs, spread over a week's time, mostly because I had never done it before and was being extremely cautious so as not to damage my car.  I checked with a local rack installer before I started, but their solution was to permanently mount the landing pads, which I was not thrilled about. Instead, I opted to install threaded "T-nut" mounts...

About a year ago I caved in and sold the '94 Ford Ranger I'd bought from my dad in high school. After a short-lived and ill-fated stint with a battered Jeep Cherokee, I picked up a Subaru WRX hatchback with a backseat and twice the horsepower of my old Ford. I love the power and handling of my new 'rex, but it couldn't quite compare to the utility of the Ranger until I added a set of Yakima cross bars. Trips to the lumber yard (or the lake with my homemade kayak) are now possible again, but I'm not a fan of the constant howling the new bars added to my new ride. It was so bad I considered dropping the 75 bucks REI asks for a fairing to redirect the wind silently up and over. But then I remembered a tip from an old friend and former co-worker (thanks, Jason). To get rid of wind noise from a Yakima (or Thule) roof rack for cheap: Wrap surveyor's twine around both bars in a spiral pattern.  That's it. Surprisingly enough, that is enough to b...